Uncovering the stories of Minnesota's past.
At Minnesota Then, we’re passionate about making history accessible to everyone, regardless of their location, time constraints, or budget. By leveraging technology and creative storytelling, we break down the usual barriers that keep people from engaging with museums – like cost, distance, and scheduling. We’re excited to offer a unique way for everyone to connect with the past – anytime, wherever they are.
Our journey to creating Minnesota Then was inspired by a deep desire to tell the stories of places that can’t always share their own past. We believe history should be accessible to everyone, not just those able to visit traditional museums. From early pop-up experiments to this digital platform, we’ve embraced innovative technology and thoughtful design to make Minnesota's rich history come alive—right at your fingertips.
Started as a post-grad thesis project to share local history on a community level.
Began publishing in-depth articles about Minnesota's past.
The Museum Without Walls project enters active development.
Released the Museum Without Walls v1 beta, opening Minnesota history to everyone.
Our blog articles are rooted in deep research—often guided by books written by historians, journalists, and community scholars. When we cite a book, we include a link to its page on Amazon for easy access. If you choose to purchase through one of these links, it helps support the authors whose work made our storytelling possible—and contributes modestly to keeping Minnesota Then free and ad-free for all.
We never accept payment for coverage, and affiliate links never influence our editorial decisions. These recommendations reflect genuine appreciation for the scholarship that shapes our work.
Curious about Minnesota’s history? Minnesota Then brings fascinating historic sites to life, offering detailed information, evocative images, captivating stories, and fun interactive features like our engaging blog and trivia games. Whether you're relaxing at home or on the go, we’ve made it easy, fun, and unforgettable to connect with the past.
Ready to step into Minnesota's history? Start your journey today! Explore the map, try our trivia, dive into the blog, and much, much more.
Minnesota Then